Pump operating mechanism



Sept. 22, 1942. c. w. sPRoULL.

PUMP OPERATING MECHANISM Filed July l0, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet l CHAPLES W5P/201m Sept. 22, 1942. -c. w. sPRoULL.

l PUMP OPERATING MECHANISM Filed July' 1o, 1939 s sheets-sheet 2CHA/21.55 W JP/eol/LL Sept 22, 1942- c. w. sPRoULL.

Y PUMP OPERATING' MECHANISM 3 Shee'is-Sheet 3 Filed July l0. 1939gms/HM' CHAQLES W SPROULL allai/lill "Y I 4115.,.0 1

Patented Sept. 22, 1942 UNlTED STATES "PTENT OFFICE PUMP OPERATINGMECHANST/ Charles W. Sproull, Houston, Tex. Application July 10, 1939,Serial No. 283,592 3 Claims. (Q1. 121-157) This invention relates topump operating mechanism.

The invention embodies certain novel improvements over that type of pumpdisclosed. in my copending application led July 9, 1934, in the UnitedStates Patent Oice under Serial No. 734,283, now Patent No. 2,182,062,and is a cond tinuation, in part, of said application.

An object of the invention is to provide, in a deep well pump a noveltype of master valve and controlling pilot Valve assembly forcontrolling the application of the operating fluid to the motor pistonof the pump, and includes also a novel connection between the pilotvalve and the said piston.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel type of mastervalve for controlling the application of the operating fluid to thepiston whereby the operating ud will be more gradually applied to thework thus avoiding sudden shocks upon reversal of the application of themotive uid from one side of said vpiston to the other side thereof.

It is a further object of the invention to provide for .the free escapeof gas through the working barrel check valves when the pump plunger isat the limit of its down-stroke.

The invention also embodies means for entrapping and retaining the oilor other liquid in the pump tubing when the pump is withdrawn forrepairs or replacements.

The invention also embodies novel means for collecting sand and detritusin the pumped liquid and preventing the same yfrom settling down about,and clogging, the working parts of the With the above and other objectsin View the invention has particular relation to certain novel featuresof construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of whichis given in this specification and. illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a vertical, sectional View o' the upper portion of thepump showing the master valve in position to permit the application ofoperating fluid to the piston to effect downstroke or power stroke ofthe piston.

Figure 2 shows a sectional view oi the lower portion of the valveassembly showing the pilot valve and the connecting means for connectingthe same to the motor piston.

Figure 3 shows a vertical, sectional view showing the motor cylinder andpiston and the connection for the pump traveling Valve.

Figure 4 shows a vertical, sectional view of the pumping mechanism.

Figure 5 shows a vertical, sectional view of the upper portion of theValve assembly showing the master valve at the end `of its downstrokevand in position to permit the application'of motive fluid to the motorpiston to effect upward movement thereof.

Figure 6 shows a side elevation, partly in section, 0f an intermediateportion of the valve assembly showing the motive fluid conduits.

Figure 7 shows a fragmentary, side view of the upper end of the motorcylinder and the lower end of the valve assembly housing.

Figure 8 shows a fragmentary, side elevation of the lower end of thepump.

Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view takenon line 9-9 of Figure 6.

Figure l0 shows an elevational view, partly in section, of the upperportion of the assembly shown positioned in the well casing.

Figure 11 shows an elevational view, partly in section, of anintermediate view thereof.

Figure 12 shows an elevational view, partly in section, of the lower endof the pump.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals ofreference designate the same parts in each of the figures, the numeral ldesignates the pump body as a whole whose upper end is connected to thetubular string 2 which extends .to the ground surface and which forms aconduit for the application of the operating iiuid to the piston foroperating the pump. This operating fluid may be oil, gas or otherselected uid.

Connected to the lower end of the body there is a tubular connection 3containing the stufng box 4 through which the tubular stem 5reciprocates. Connected to the lower end of the coupling 3 there is atubular pump working barrel 6 whose upper end carries the enlarged head1 which rests on the upper end of the tubular packing cage 8. This cagecontains the packing assembly 9 comprising cup rings and spacer ringsforming a packing between the upper reduced end of the working barreland the cage and said cage supports a surrounding wall packer assemblyI0 of any conventional construction which forms a fluid tight sealbetween the cage and the well casing Il.

Beneath the cage 8 and connected thereto there is a liner l2 which maybe formed into a well screen as I4 adapted to be set opposite theproducing stratum in the well.

The tubular working barrel of the pump has a coupling I thereon providedwith a seat to support the upwardly opening standing valve structure I6.

On the lower end of the valve stem 5 there is the conventional travelingvalve structure |1. Upon downward movement of the traveling valve thestanding valve I 6 will close and the liquid in the working barrel 6will pass above the traveling Valve and upon upstroke of the travelingvalve the fluid will be discharged out from the upper end of the workingbarrel through the discharge openings I8 and into the space between thecasing and the pump body I and will pass thence up through said casingand out through the flow line |9.

It will be noted that the string 2 and the entire pumping apparatus maybe withdrawn as a unit from ythe well leaving the packer I 9 and thewell screen in the well and may be reinserted, also M as a unit, intothe well and seated onto the packer cage 8. f Y

There is a cylinder 2| which formsca part of `the main body of thepumping apparatus and whose lower and upper ends may be connected withthe adjacent parts of the pumping apparatusin any preferred manner. Asshown its respective ends are connected into the main body of thepumping apparatus by the lower collar 29,

lwhich is connected to the coupling 3, and by the upper collar 20a. Thiscylinder 2| is provided with thelower inlet ports 22 which lead inwardlythrough the coupling 3. A piston 23 works within the cylinder 2| and isattached to the upper end of the traveling valve stem 5. The upper endof the main body I of the apparatus is formed with a mastervalvecylinder 24 and beneath it the pilot valve cylinder 25, saidcylinders being separated by the partition 26 which is screwed into thelower end of the cylinder 24 and into which the upper end of thecylinder 25 is screwed. The partition 26 is formed with a dependingskirt 25a which surrounds and is spaced from the upper end of thecylinder 25. The upper end of the cylinder 24 is closed by the plug 21and the lower end of the cylinder 25 is closed by a bearing 28 throughwhich the pilot valve stem 29 works.

As shown, the master Valve comprises the pistons 30, 3|, 32, 33 whichare fitted into the cylinder 24 and are spaced apart and which may beformed integrally with a common piston rod 34. The ends of this rodproject beyond the corresponding pistons 30, 33 forming the projections35, 36 which maintain the end pistons of the valve spaced from theopposing ends of the cylinder.

The pilot valve is elongated and comprises the valve rod 31 and theupper and lower pistons 38, 39 which are fitted into the cylinder 25 andare maintained in fixed, spaced relation by said rod. The pilot valveassembly is xed to the upper end of the pilot Valve stem 29.

The stem 29 is preferably formed of sections adjustably connected by theelongated coupling 40. The lower end of the valve stem 29 works througha central, axial bore 4| of the piston 23 and has the head 42 on thelower end thereof. 'I'he upper end of the piston 23 is reduced inoutside diameter and is provided with outlet openings 43, 43 and abovesaid openings has a bushing 44 screwed therein which closely surroundsthe stem 29. The openings 43 permit the free passage of liquidtherethrough upon upward` movement of the stem 29 and prevent theformation of a vacuum upon downward movement of said stem. The head 42is spaced a suflicient distance beneath the lower end of the coupling 49to allow the required independent movement of the stem 29 relative tothe piston 23.

Assuming that the traveling valve |1 has just completed its upstroke themaster valve will be in its upper position as shown in Figure 1 and theoperating fluid, under pressure, will pass downwardly through theconduits 45, 45 and through the inlet ports 46, 46 into the cylinder 24between the pistons 3|, 32 and thence out through the ports 41, 41 intothe conduits 43, 48

Yand down through said conduits and through the ports 49, 49 into thecylinder 2| and will operate against the piston 23 to drive said pistonand traveling valve |1 downwardly as indicated in Figure 4, thismovement of valve I1 closing the standing valveV I6 and the liquidbeneath said traveling Valve passing into the working barrel 6 above it.As the piston 23 moves downwardly and approaches the end of its downwardstroke the bushing 44 will engage the head 42 offthe pilot valve stem 29and will move said pilot valve stem and pilot valve downwardly. Also asthe piston 23 movesdownwardly the fluid beneath it, in the cylinder 2|,will be forced out through the ports 22 and up through the conduits',l563, connected therewith and through the ports-5|, 5| into the cylinder24 andA thence out through the relief portsY 52, 52, between the'pistons32, 33 and on into the fluid being pumped. t

There is a conduit 53 which leads ldownwardly from one of the conduits-45 and enters the cylinder 25 through the port 54 between the pistons38, 39 and the lower end of the cylinder 24 has a port 55 leading fromwhich-is a conduit 55 which enters the cylinder 25 through the upperport 51, this last mentioned port being spaced above the port 54. Thereis `also a conduit 58 connecting the lower port 59 of the cylinder 25andthe port 6|) at the upper end of the cylinder 24. v

The cylinder 24 also has Vthe relief outlets 6|, 6| leading out frombetween the pistons 30, 3| into the space between the pump and thecasing Also the upper end the outlets 62, 62 leading therefrom fortheroutlet and inlet of liquid'above the piston 38. The.

end of the cylinder 24 in any preferred manner,-

as, for example, by means of a collar 64 and whose lower end may beconnected into the main body of the pumping apparatus in any preferred`manner. As shown said lower end is connected tothe upper end of thecollar 20a by means of an open cage 65 andthe Vtubular connection 66-which contains the ports 49. The connection 66 contains a stu'lng box 61which closely' sur-v rounds the valve stem 29.

The jacket 63 has enlarged openings as v69 through which the connectionson the conduits 53, 56 and 58 may be made into the pilot valve cylinder25. The outlets 62 the pilot valve cylinder thus ly with the spacebetween the pump and the casing through said openings Vb9. The conduit53 is connected into the cylinder 25 at'a point between thepistons 38,A39 such that there will of the cylinder 25 has at the upper end Vof`communicates free-A always be high pressure fluid in the cylinder 25'between said pistons 33, 39.

While the operating fluid is lbeing applied to the piston 23 thepressure of said fluid between the pilot pistonsSS, 39 and beneath themaster valve Apiston 33 will be equalized, said pressure fluid passingthrough the conduits 53, 56. The pressure of the fluid column in thecasing above the pilot piston 38 and between the master pistons 33, 3|will also be equalized through the openings 6|, S2 and the Apressure ofthe fluid above the master piston 3|) and beneath the pilot piston 39will be equalized through the outlet 59 and the conduit 58.

As the pilot valve moves downwardly under the iniiuence of the downwardmovement of the .piston .23 the piston 38 thereof will move past theoutlet port 51 simultaneously with the movement of the pilot piston 39past the port 59, An operating uid, under pressure, 'will then passthrough the conduit 58 to the upper end of the cylinder 2d above themaster valve piston 30 and the master valve will be forced downwardlyinto the position shown in Figure 5. The port 59, however, of thecylinder 25 is located some distance above the lower end of saidcylinder so that the pilot valve and the piston 23 will not be suddenlystopped but may continue on their downward movement until the mastervalve shall have reversed its movement, the pilot valve thus having therequired lead. The liquid beneath the piston 39 will not be trapped inthe lower end of the cylinder 25 but may pass out through the ports 38,68 as shown in Figure 2. When the master valve has been forceddownwardly as explained the operating fluid will pass through theconduits 35 and ports 46 into the cylinder 24 and thence out through theports 5|, through the conduits f! and the ports 22 into the cylinder 2|beneath the piston 23 and said piston and the pump travelling valve |1will be elevated and the well liquid above said traveling valve will beforced from the working valve out through the ports I8 and on up throughthe casing and an additional charge of well liquid will be drawn intothe working barrel through the standing valve I6. Upon elevation of thepiston 23 it eventually will strike the coupling 40 and will elevate thestern 29 and the pilot valve whereupon the pilot piston 38 will clearthe port 51 and pass above it and the pilot piston 39 will clear andpass above the port 59 and the operating uid under pressure will thenpass from the conduit 53 through the cylinder 25 and the conduit 5B intothe lower end of the cylinder 24 beneath the master valve cylinder 33and the master valve will be elevated into its original position asshown in Figure 1.

Upon elevation of the master valve the operating fluid will then passthrough the conduits 45 into the cylinder 24 and thence through theports 41 and conduits 48 and ports 49 into the cylinder 2| to againforce the piston 23 and the traveling valve downwardly as before andbefore said piston 23 reaches the limit of its downward movement it willoperate through the stem 29 as above explained, to reverse the positionof the pilot valve and after the pilot valve has been reversed and theoperating fluid has been admitted through the conduit 58 into the upperend of the cylinder 24 it has sufficient lead to continue its downwardmovement until the application of the operating fluid underneath thepiston 23 has been effected to cause a reversal of the movement of saidlast mentioned piston.

It will be noted the conduits for conducting 'the operating fluid aremounted externally of the supporting structure for said conduits andarepreferably formed of pipe, as shown. The ends of the conduits 45, 48 and59 are welded to suitable attaching plates which are substantiallysimilar and which are designated on the drawings by the numerals 16 andthese plates are bolted to the pump body by suitable bolts as 1|. At thepoints of the attachment of the plates to the body said body is formedrectangular in. crosssecticnal contour as shown in Figure 9 to providefiat faces against which the attaching plates are fitted. The ends ofthese pipes are plugged up as shown and the plates are formed withcentral openings to register with the corresponding Vinlet and outletopenings. The other conduits 53., 5t and '58 have their ends connectedinto the respective valve cylinders by means of suitable elbows 'asshown.

Special attention is called to the fact that the ports 41, 5| have agreater inside diameter than the length of the corresponding pistons 3|,32 so that as the master valve is moved to control the application ofthe operating fluid to opposite sides of the piston 23, said ports 41,5| will never, at any time, be completely blocked or closed by saidpistons 3|, 32. The column of operating fluid being exerted through thetubular string 2 and the conduits 45 flows under strong pressure and asudden stoppage of the movement of said column by the complete closingof said ports 41, 5| as the corresponding pistons pass them would resultin a sudden shock or jar which is avoided by making said ports somewhatlarger in inside diameter than the length of the corresponding mastervalve pistons thus only retarding but not completely stopping themovement of the column oi operating fluid.

The drawings and description are illustrative merely while the broadprinciple of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a pump, a motor comprising a motor cylinder, a piston therein, amaster valve cylinder aligned with the motor cylinder, branch conduitsconnected into the master valve cylinder and also connected into themotor cylinder on opposite sides of the piston, a supply conduit aboveand in alignment with and connected into the valve cylinder for thesupply of an operating fluid, under pressure, thereto, a master valve inthe valve cylinder for connecting the supply conduit alternately withthe branch conduits, said master valve including spaced pistonsconnected to move as a unit and shaped to only partly close one branchconduit while connecting the supply conduit with the other branchconduit, a pilot valve cylinder aligned with and located beneath themaster valve cylinder, a partition separating said valve cylinders, saidpartition being formed with a depending tubular skirt which surroundsand is spaced from the adjacent end of the pilot valve cylinder, a pilotvalve in the pilot valve cylinder arranged to be controlled by themovements of the piston in the motor cylinder and to control themovements of the master valve, said pilot valve cylinder having a reliefoutlet at its lower end and a relief outlet at its upper end in saidskirt.

2. In a pump, a motor comprising a motor cylinder, a piston therein, amaster valve cylinder, branch conduits connected into the valve cylinderand also connected into the motor cylinder on opposite sides of thepiston, a supply conduit connected into the valve cylinder for thesupply supply conduit with the other branch conduit, a pilot valvecylinder beneath and aligned with the master Valve cylinder, a jacketconnected to the master Valve cylinder and surrounding and spaced fromthe pilot valve cylinder, a connection attached to the lower end of thejacket and containing a seal for a stem through which the pilot valvemay be connected to said piston.

3. Ina pump a motor comprising a motor cylinder, a pilot valve cylinder,a master valve cylinder and an inlet conduit entering the master Valvecylinder for supplying an operating fluid under pressure thereto, saidcylinders and conduit being arranged in vertical alignment, a piston inthe motor cylinder, branch conduits leading from the master Valvecylinder and terminating in the motor cylinder at opposite sides of thepiston, said master valve cylinder having ports connecting the branchconduits into said master valve cylinder and also having correspondingrelief ports, a master valve in the master valve cylinder movable toalternately connect said inlet conduit with one of the branch conduitsand to simultaneously connect the other branch conduit With thecorresponding relief port, said valve being shaped to simultaneouslyconnect the inlet conduit with the branch ports during one portion ofits movement and the Valve being arranged, during said portion ofmovement, to connect the inlet conduit with both branch ports and theircorresponding relief ports, a pilot valve in the pilot valve cylinder, apilot valve rod connecting the pilot valve with the piston, a jacketconnected to the master valve cylinder and surrounding and spaced fromthe pilot Valve cylinder, coupling means connecting the motor cylinderto the jacket, said coupling means including an open cage through whichthe pilot valve stem Works, and containing a seal around said stem.

CHARLES W. SPROULL.

